Wrench



Sept. l2, 1944. A. PoRTuoNDo WRENCH Filed March 25, 1943 Patented Sept. 12, 1944 "i l e 2,358,249

2,358,2519'.V gui.. 1

Aurelio Portuondo, Camaguey, Cuba, assigner to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 25, 1943, Serial No. 480,449

3 Claims.

My invention relates in general to a tool for engaging slotted metal objects, and particularly to a wrench for tightening orloosening slottedhead nuts of the so-called flush or countersunk 'type threaded onto a conventional bolt or stud.

Wrenches or keys for engaging with slotted or recessed nuts are old, and even an ordinary screwdriver is sometimes used as a makeshift expedient to remove a slotted nut having its top flush with the surrounding surface. The projecting portio-n of the bolt or stud which in my invention isused to clamp and guide the tool, is a hindrance to the use of any bladed device such as a screwdriver. But the chief drawback of all the prior devices is that they are not adapted to grip or hold the nut rmly unless a continuous external pressure is applied, and therefore are awkward to use on other than a horizontal surface and quite likely to slip and damage the nut face.

One object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a simple and inexpensive hand tool for turning a slotted ush nut ofi a projecting bolt or stud without marring the nut face.

Another object is to provide means for locking the tool to the slotted nut so that regardless of position the tool will not drop oli the nut.

A further object is to provide a tool which utilizes the bolt threads to clamp the tool to the slotted nut and then uses the same threads as a guide in unscrewing together the nut and tool.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Having thus given a general description of the objects and advantages of my invention, I shall now in order to make the same more clear, refer to the annexed sheet of drawings forming a part of this specication and in which like characters of reference indicate likeparts.

Figure 1 is a vertical central cross-section thro-ugh the wrench, showing portions of the arms and telescoping inner member in lbroken elevation;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe wrench showing it in working position and locked to the nut to be removed;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the wrench; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the wrench.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral I designates a conventional threaded bolt, inserted through one or morle thicknesses of material 2, upon which the flush truste-conical nut 3 having slots 4 is screwed. The wrench 5 is made in two principal parts: an outer tubular member 6 provided with integral lever arms 1, and an inner locking member 8 telescoping within the tubular member IiP Said tubular member 6 has screwed to its threaded lower end a detachable hollow socket 9 with raised key ridges I0 for engaging the nut slot 4. The locking member 8 is provided at its bottom end with an orifice I I which is interiorly threaded and adapted to engage the screw threads of the :bolt I. Pivoting on pin I2 through flattened portion I3 of, the locking member 8, provided with an indentation I4, isa at head member I5. The said flat head member I5 has an inner chamber I 6 for containing the small spring I'I and steel ball I 8, and cut-away portions I9 to register with.

either of the shoulders 20 on the lever arms 'I.

For operating the tool 5, as where it is desired the locking member 8 is lowered and rotated by the said ilat head member I5 until the interiorly threaded orifice II K threads of the bolt I holds the socket 9 tightly against the nut 3. The flat head member I5 is then snapped down so that the cut-away portions I9 engage with the shoulders 20, and the tool is rotated as a unit by the lever arms 1 to remove the nut. The tool may be used in a similar manner to attach or tighten a nut. By simply unscrewing the socket 9 and removing the pin I2 the tool may be taken apart and different sizes of socket 9 and/or locking member 8 substituted to n accommodate the various sizes of nuts and bolts. Although I have thus `shown and described my invention in considerable detail, Ido not wish to be limited to the! exact and specic details so shown and described, but may usevsuch substitutions, modifications and equivalents thereof as are embraced within the scope of my invention or pointed out in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimA as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1". A tool for loosening or tightening a metal object having a tool-engaging face on a threaded bolt or the like, comprising a tubular member provided with a detachable socket for engaging the tool-engaging face, an interiorly threaded rotatable member within the tubular member for engaging the bolt as a guide, and a slotted pivoted head member for locking the interiorly ber.

2. A tool for loosening or tightening a slotted n engaging with the screw threaded rotatable member to thetubular mem-y Y outer tubular member provided with integral 3. A tool for removing orv attaching a. slotted Y countersunk nut on a screwthreaded bolt or theA like, comprising a tubular member having on one end a socket with raised key ridges to engage the slot inthe nut and provided at the other end with a handle, and a locking member telescopiug within the tubular member and provided at one end vwith interior screw threads adapted to engage the screw threads of the bolt and at the other end with a pivoted snap-locking head, whereby when the locking member has been lsreweddown tightly to the nut the socket on the tubular member is locked to the nutand the nut can then be loosened or tightened as desired by manipulating the handle on the tubular member.

l AURELIO PORTUONDO. 

